Jointed figure toy

ABSTRACT

The toy of the invention, preferably representing a doll, is substantially flat-surfaced and has a centrally positioned member body to which are pivotably connected a plurality of members such as head and limbs. The head and limbs are capable of being detached from the body, of assuming different positions upon rotating about the pivoting means which secure them to the body, and of being foldably superimposable upon the body for easy and compact storage. On the upper portion of the body there is suitably provided behind the head a ring with corresponding string.

United States Patent [191 Chiari JOINTED FIGURE TOY [76] Inventor: Gervasio ,Chiari, Antonelli 2,

Cologne (Brescia), Italy [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1971 21 AppLNoi 206,029

"[301 Frignliiiiifieiiiifiririiity page d h Sept.l,197l Italy ..l96-A/7l 521 U.S.Cl.....'. ..46/l61,46/l73 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 3/10 [58] Field of Search ..46/ll9, 120, 126, 46/133, 161, 173

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,444,169 6/1948 Paige ..46/l26 1,882,034 /1932 Raigstad.. .....46/1l9 1,545,296 7/1925 Wilson .....46/l33 2,595,971 5/1952 Mossbauerml ..46/l

[ 1 Apr. 17, 1973 Primary Examiner--L0uis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney-Clario Ceccon ABSTRACT The toy of the" invention, preferably representing a doll, is substantially flat-surfaced and has a centrally positioned member body to which are pivotably connected a plurality of members such as head and limbs.

The head and limbs are capable: of being detached from the body, of assuming difierent positions upon rotating about the pivoting means which secure them to the body, and of being foldably superimposable upon the body for easy and compact storage. On the upper portion of the body there is suitably provided behindthe head a ring with corresponding string.

3 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 JOINTED FIGURE TOY The present invention is related to toys in general and, more particularly, to dolls and the like which have member elements that are rotatably positionable with respect to one another, superimposable one on another, as well as detachable from one another.

Briefly stated, the toy of the invention comprises a central member or body having of a substantially flat surface; suitably shaped and having an upper protruding section, serving as a neck for the toy; a head member, also substantially flat is pivotably connected to said upper projection; the body is also provided with four additional and substantially lateral projections to which are pivotably connected corresponding flat-surfaced limbs. The head, as well as the limbs are connected to the centrally positioned body by means of pivots or equivalent fastening means.

It is another feature of the invention to provide the upper protruding section of the body of the toy with a string, elastic or otherwise, capable of supporting the toy. This supporting means, however, does not interfere in any event with the free pivotably-assumed positions of the head member.

As mentioned above, the head and the limbs of the toy are readily attachable to and detachable from the central body member by means of conventional fastening pivotable means, which might be, for example, special rivets, cylindrical pivots, conical pivots, snap-on buttons, and the like. Obviously, these fastening means may be metallic, plastic or of any other suitable material.

The toy per se may be made of flexible and pliable material or, if desired, it may be made of rigid or semi rigid material.

The articulation or pivoting action of the head and of the limbs with respect to the body should be such as to permit the members connected to the body to assume any desired position so as to increase the amusing possibilities of the toy. It can readily be seen that the toy, if representing a humanchild figure for example, may be caused to assume real, unreal, comical or caricature postures and may, furthermore, be supplied with an array of interchangeable head pieces and clothing.

Finally, the pivotability of the head and of the limbs allows the superimposition thereof with respect to both the central body portion and to themselves, so as to reduce the surface of the toy and enable the user to fold it and store it in, for example, a small drawer or a purse or a pocket.

The characteristic features of the invention will become even more apparent from the following detailed description thereof and from the accompanying drawing, presented as an illustration of and not a limitation upon the scope of the inventionQln the drawing:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and rear elevational views of the toy of the invention; and

FlG. 3 is a sectional detail of the means connecting two member elements of the toy of FIG. 1.

With reference to the drawing, the toy illustrated comprises a central body 1 substantially flat and made, preferably, of flexible material, although rigid or semirigid stock material may be used in its manufacture. In the upper section of the body 1 there is provided a projection 2 which may be suitabl circular and of smaller thickness than the thickness 0 the body. This pro ection 2 serves as the neck configuration and to it is pivotably connected, for example by means of pivot 3, a head member 4 equally flat in its surface and having an appendix 5 peripherically circular and matching projection or nect 2 of the body 1.

The body 1 is also provided, in lateral positions, both in its upper and lower regions, with a plurality of projections 6, 10, peripherically rounded and of smaller thickness than that of the body proper. To these projections are pivotably connected by means of, forexample, pivots 7 and 11, respectively, the remaining member elements of the toy, namely the arms 8, 9 and the legs 12 and 13. These limbs are also provided with flat surfaces like the rest of the members of the toy.

To the projection or neck 2 of the toy there is provided a ring 14 (see FIG. 2) to which is attached a suspension means 15, which may be a string or an elastic cord, the purpose of which being the lifting and hanging of the toy without in any event interfering with the movements of the pivotable members of the toy.

As it can be readily seen from the dotted lines in FIG. 1, the arms 8, 9, the legs 12, 13 and the head 4 may be positioned at will with respect to the body 1 by pivoting them about their respective pivots 7, l l and 3.

By virtue of the limited thickness of the individual members at their connecting'or pivoting points, it can be seen that the limbs as well as the head may be superimposed on the central body :member or on one another so as to permit the reduction in size of the toy and the storing thereof in such receptacles as purses or pockets. i

It is understood that many modifications of the invention, as illustrated, may be. had without, however, departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

What I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: i

1. A jointed figure toy comprising:

a. a flat body portion having four openingstherein, the axes of said openings generally defining a rectangle;

b. a limb member pivotly mounted in each of said four openings;

c. a projecting portion integral with said body portion, said projecting portion being intermediate to relatively closely spaced openings in said body portion, said projecting portion representing the neck of said figure toy and including an opening therein; and

d. a head portion pivotly mounted in said opening in said projecting portion whereby e. each of said limb members and said head portion is pivotable to a position substantially overlaying said body portion.

2. The jointed figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body portion and said projecting portion are recessed in the vicinityof said openings therein, said limb members and said head portion being received in said recesses.

3. The jointed figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said projecting portion further includes an aperture therein for receiving an elongated supporting member. 

1. A jointed figure toy comprising: a. a flat body portion having four openings therein, the axes of said openings generally defining a rectangle; b. a limb member pivotly mounted in each of said four openings; c. a projecting portion integral with said body portion, said projecting portion being intermediate to relatively closely spaced openings in said body portion, said projecting portion representing the neck of said figure toy and including an opening therein; and d. a head portion pivotly mounted in said opening in said projecting portion whereby e. each of said limb members and said head portion is pivotable to a position substantially overlaying said body portion.
 2. The jointed figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body portion and said projecting portion are recessed in the vicinity of said openings therein, said limb members and said head portion being received in said recesses.
 3. The jointed figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said projecting portion further includes an aperture therein for receiving an elongated supporting member. 